Gatwick Airport has discovered a timeless truth: when the water goes, so does civilization. Both terminals are currently grappling with a water supply issue that has rendered toilets non-functional and forced restaurants to close their doors, leaving passengers to ponder the fragility of modern life while clutching complimentary bottles of water.

The airport, in a statement on X that was presumably typed under duress, apologized for the disruption and noted that the problem originates in the Horley area. SES Water, the utility responsible for the region, has helpfully explained that a power outage at its Bough Beech Water Treatment Works is to blame, causing low water pressure or a complete loss of supply for some customers. A company spokesperson assured the public that teams are working to "overcome those complications," which is corporate-speak for "we're really sorry, please bear with us."

In the meantime, Gatwick has deployed contingency measures and is distributing bottled water to staff and passengers. Because when the toilets stop working, the least you can do is hand out some Evian and hope for the best.